Irish MEP Maria Walsh has proposed increased Horizon Europe funding for agriculture and fisheries.

As one of the key negotiators in the European Parliament on Horizon Europe, Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has tabled proposals for agriculture and fisheries.

MEP Maria Walsh is the lead agriculture negotiator for the European People’s Party (EPP) on Horizon Europe, the largest funding programme in the EU for research and innovation.

Horizon Europe is a major source of funding for Irish universities, research centres, agri-innovation projects and rural development. 

The proposed funding envelope for the next period is almost double that of the current cycle, increasing to €175 billion for 2028-2034.

Proposals

In line with this increase, MEP Walsh has proposed increasing the Horizon budget dedicated to the agriculture and fisheries sectors. 

MEP Maria Walsh, a full member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, said: "While the overall budget for Horizon Europe has almost doubled for the next funding period, we are not yet seeing a proportional increase in the investment dedicated to agriculture. 

"I want to see this figure doubled so that Irish farmers can feel the benefits of Horizon Europe on their land and in their pockets.

"Such an increase will also ensure that our universities, research bodies, agri-tech companies and SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises] can avail of the support they need to innovate and make our farming more competitive, more efficient and more environmentally friendly."

Walsh said that during recent negotiations across political groups, she submitted proposals which called for increasing the budget dedicated to agriculture as well as ringfenced funding for agricultural research within the Horizon programme.

She added that she was "the only MEP to propose the inclusion of fisheries" and was "surprised and disappointed" by some opposition to it.

“Thankfully, I secured the support from a majority of other political groups," she said.

"My proposal on fisheries remains and I hope it will receive support from the Agriculture Committee as a whole when it comes to a vote."